Tag Archive | "Ray Rice"

The Ravens appeared to avoid a couple bullets in Saturday’s 37-30 win over the Dallas Cowboys after two key starters left the game with injuries in the first half.

Top cornerback Jimmy Smith created plenty of concern as he slammed his back hard on the turf while covering Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant on the opening drive of the game, but X-rays were negative for what’s being described as a bruised chest. The fourth-year defensive back watched the remainder of the game in street clothes after he was seen spitting up blood as he was helped to the sideline.

“Jimmy had kind of a chest contusion,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “He landed on his back and got a bruise in there, so he should be fine.”

Despite what sounds like a minor injury, The Sun reported Smith was still coughing up blood in the locker room and couldn’t recall anything after the first series of the game.

Running back Ray Rice also left the game with an injured shoulder, but X-rays were negative as Rice told the Ravens’ broadcast team he was fine when he was initially taken into the locker room. He finished the game with 21 yards on two carries, which included a good burst on an 18-yard gain.

With Rice facing a two-game suspension to begin the regular season, top backup Bernard Pierce started the game and finished with 55 yards on seven carries.

“That’s a shoulder bruise,” said Harbaugh about Rice’s condition following the game. “It shouldn’t be anything too serious.”

Harbaugh reiterated to reporters that he didn’t expect either player to miss too much time.

Tight end Owen Daniels sat out Saturday night’s game after missing practices on Wednesday and Thursday, but the Ravens have maintained that the veteran is simply being rested and is not dealing with an injury.

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A brotherly reunion and Super Bowl XLVII rematch adds a little more spice to the preseason opener as the Ravens welcome the San Francisco 49ers to Baltimore on Thursday night.

As is always the case with the first preseason game, the contest will offer little more than a cameo appearance for veteran starters expected to make the biggest impact this season, but it does provide welcome change for a group of players tired of working against one another after two weeks of practices in Owings Mills. While most veteran starters figure to see little more than a series or two, younger starters figure to see more extensive action in the first half if history holds to form.

“We’re kind of on a standard plan right now, as far as that [goes],” coach John Harbaugh said. “I don’t know exactly the number of plays yet, but it won’t be anything we haven’t done in the past.”

Of course, the first preseason game won’t be the standard road trip for the 49ers as they’ll then join the Ravens at their training facility in Owings Mills for three days of practices, providing extra competition as well as opportunities to evaluate just how much improvement has been made to a team that failed to make the playoffs last season for the first time since 2007. Much will hinge on the offense under new coordinator Gary Kubiak, who is bringing his version of the West Coast attack to reinvigorate a group that finished 29th in the NFL last year.

Entering his seventh season at the helm of the Ravens offense, Joe Flacco has been all business this summer as Kubiak and quarterbacks coach Rick Dennison have focused on the veteran quarterback getting rid of the ball quickly while improving his footwork. Flacco isn’t the only one who will be under the microscope with the new offensive attack, but even he acknowledges the preseason opener carrying more significance than in past years because of the dramatic changes made this offseason.

Of course, the outcome of the opener won’t provide any definitive answers for questions facing the Ravens on both sides of the football, but the game will sharpen points of emphasis for both coaches and players after facing another team.

“Anytime you’re running a new offense and you think you’re doing it pretty well, it’s always nice to get out there and have a real test,” Flacco said. “Have people hitting you and flying around and going full speed under the lights. It’s probably a little more important.”

Thursday will mark the first ever preseason meeting between the Ravens and the 49ers, but Baltimore owns the 3-1 edge in the regular season and a 1-0 advantage in the postseason after their 34-31 win in Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans. The Ravens are 42-29 all-time in the preseason and have a 15-9 preseason mark in the Harbaugh era.

Unofficial (and largely speculative) injury report

The Ravens are not required to release an injury report like they do for regular-season games, but I’ve offered my best guess on what the injury report would look like if one were to be released.

Most of the players ruled to be out will come as no surprise, but the status of a few will be in question. This list, of course, will not include any veterans who may be held out of the preseason opener due to the coaching staff’s preference. Cornerback Lardarius Webb is not expected to play in either of the first two preseason games as he’s been sidelined with a lower back injury since July 25.

With so much attention justifiably paid to his off-field transgressions, you almost forget the 27-year-old back is coming off the worst season of his career in which he averaged a meager 3.1 yards per carry. Rice was heavy, slow, and banged up during the 2013 season and must play well to not only hold off backup Bernard Pierce but give the Ravens confidence that they can move forward with the three-time Pro Bowl selection beyond the 2014 season. Rice will want to use the first couple preseason games to make a favorable impression on Kubiak with his two-game suspension looming at the start of the season.

“Ray has looked really good,” Harbaugh said. “Comparisons to years in the past, we’ll find all that out during the season. But he’s in tremendous shape. I’m seeing him make good lateral cuts. He has really good burst, acceleration is there, [and] vision is there. He’s been very patient with the zone runs, which is something that I believe to be an improvement over the past — even two years ago.”

2. FS Darian Stewart

Signed to a one-year, $1.3 million contract in the offseason, the former St. Louis Ram has yet to be seriously challenged at the free safety position with third-round pick Terrence Brooks struggling to grasp the playbook in his first season. Stewart isn’t spectacular, but he’s been complimented by Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Dean Pees for knowing his assignments and being in the right place, traits that shouldn’t be taken for granted considering the Baltimore defense gave up too many big plays a year ago. Stewart isn’t a long-term answer or dynamic player, but the Ravens hope he can be a value signing comparable to when they signed Corey Graham a couple years ago.

“I see a grown, mature, confident guy that I think fits really well in our room,” said secondary coach Steve Spagnuolo, who was Stewart’s head coach for two years in St. Louis. “He’s kind of slipped in there. I’ve noticed he’s taken a backseat, which you have to do when you change teams a little bit, and that was early on. Now, I see his personality coming out. I think that will happen more and more. I think he’s going to be a great leader for us. I really do.”

3. RT Rick Wagner

Perhaps the storyline received too much attention during spring workouts, but there’s been less buzz about the right tackle position than you’d expect with second-year lineman Rick Wagner continuing to be the favorite to start over fourth-year disappointment Jah Reid. The Ravens have been higher on Wagner than most of the outside world all along, but the Wisconsin product will need to prove capable against preseason opponents to put concerns to rest. Wagner doesn’t need to be a Pro Bowl tackle, but he needs to hold his own as the Ravens are too challenged offensively to be forced to constantly provide help in protection on the right side of the line.

“He is doing a lot better,” said linebacker Elvis Dumervil, who often matches up against Wagner during practice. “You’ve got to stay consistent with [offensive line coach] Juan Castillo’s scheme — his protection, his switching it up. But for the most part, he’s just doing a really good job.”

4. DT Brandon Williams

The 2013 third-round pick appeared to be emerging as a contributor in the defensive line rotation last year before wearing down and being inactive over five of the last six games, but the Ravens have shown plenty of confidence in Williams so far this summer by sliding Haloti Ngata back to the 3-technique defensive tackle position and lining up the Missouri Southern State product at the nose. His strength and athleticism have been mentioned frequently, but Williams will need to show those traits translate in taking on interior blockers and making plays in stopping the run. If Williams is not up to the challenge, the Ravens could elect to shift Ngata back to the nose and take longer looks at second-round rookie Timmy Jernigan and third-year lineman DeAngelo Tyson.

“Now, his strength is a lot more functional because he understands the technical part of the game a lot better,” defensive line coach Clarence Brooks said. “He understands how we play a lot better and how we want things done. He understands that, and he was able to take his natural strength and work it into what we want. So far, everything is on the upswing.”

5. CB Tramain Jacobs

Most eyes will inevitably fall on Chykie Brown and Asa Jackson as the Ravens try to figure out who will be lining up at the No. 3 cornerback spot in the regular-season opener, but Jacobs is on a short list of rookie free agents to watch this summer. Playing at Texas A&M, the 5-foot-11, 182-pound cornerback saw plenty of tough competition in college practices matching up against wideout Mike Evans with Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel throwing the football. Jacobs has shown good athleticism and a nose for the football to put him in the conversation for a spot on the 53-man roster. With so much concern over the lack of depth at the cornerback position, Jacobs will have opportunities to turn heads if his play carries over to preseason games.

“Everybody’s getting a good look. It’s a stiff competition right now,” said starter Jimmy Smith, who mentioned Jacobs as someone in contention for the No. 3 cornerback job. “Obviously, we don’t want Webb hurt, but that gives opportunity for [others]. It’s a stiff battle at the third cornerback position right now.”

Drew’s Morning Dish is brought to you by Koons Baltimore Ford. Glenn’s Drew’s Morning Dish is brought to you by Koons Baltimore Ford and if not I’m just going to keep saying it is because it makes me feel a greater sense of self-worth.

The Baltimore Ravens will have another opportunity Thursday to do things the right way. While undoubtedly there will be some in attendance for or viewing RB Ray Rice’s press conference who will come to crucify no matter what is said. Those people have always existed (in at least part for good reason) and Rice and the Ravens have simply managed to swing more people into that group with their failures.

They don’t need to keep going out of their way to direct folks down that path.

Ray Rice is slated to meet with the media following Thursday morning’s 8:30am practice. A cynic would note the team altered the schedule by hours-perhaps in hopes that fewer national media types would be able to attend the media gathering. Head coach John Harbaugh is scheduled to also be available for a second consecutive day as well. Harbaugh is not often made available to the media on back to back days, but perhaps this changed because of the amount of national media expected for the event.

I have been told that reporters will NOT get a “only questions about football for Ray” type of warning. All questions will be on the table. That does not necessarily mean that Rice will ANSWER every question. In fact, I’d venture a guess that he’ll defer to his legal team a time or two during the course of the presser.

I hope that during the course of the entire event Rice will pursue any sort of “redemption” angle but will instead remain humble and contrite. I also hope that John Harbaugh will do the one thing he and the rest of the organization still haven’t done in the nearly six months since the since the original incident took place…I hope he’ll use the words “domestic violence” and choose to condemn the act.

Harbaugh came as close to that as we had ever seen Wednesday when chatting with reporters about Rice’s upcoming press conference.

“I love the way he’s handled it. I hate what happened. What happened was wrong – flat out. The thing I appreciate about it is how Ray has handled it afterwards by acknowledging that it was wrong, and he will do everything he can do to make it right. That’s what you ask for when someone does the wrong thing. I’m proud of him from that standpoint. For anybody out there that’s going to misconstrue that and just write, ‘John Harbaugh is proud of Ray,’ then shame on you. I’m proud of him for the way he’s handled it. I’m disappointed in what happened, but you go forward. You go forward.”

He came awfully close. “I hate what happened”, “what happened was wrong” and “I’m disappointed in what happened” are all close.

Of course…the “what happened” is domestic violence-but the Ravens have chosen not to say anything about that. The Ravens have chosen not to address that despite the fact that according to the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence, 50 people in Maryland lost their lives due to domestic violence from July 2012 to June 2013.

They lost their lives to domestic violence. The same act that happened between Ray Rice and his now wife in Atlantic City. The same topic the Ravens have chosen to avoid at every turn in 2014.

It’s time for John Harbaugh-the “football CEO” of the Baltimore Ravens to be the one to use a platform (and there most certainly will be one Thursday) to step up and address “domestic violence”. Not “what happened”, not “the incident”, not anything like that. It’s time to step up and address “domestic violence”.

It’s time to say “we don’t condone or accept domestic violence and as a leader in this community we want to do everything we can to help those in this community (which lost 50 members in the span of 12 months to this action) who are dealing with this awful issue.”

This might be the last chance to have this type of platform as with Rice having the case adjudicated in New Jersey and the NFL has filed their ruling. The issue will not “go away” for Rice, but this might be the last time it receives significant national attention.

I REALLY hope that when I come in Friday morning to fill in one last time on “The D&L Window Tinting Morning Reaction”, I’m not shaking my head as violently as I was following the LAST time Ray Rice spoke to the media.

This organization has made me quite proud to be a fan a number of times over the years. It would be awfully nice to feel that again Thursday instead of the same frustration I’ve been feeling for roughly half a year.

BALTIMORE — What initially appeared to be a minor back issue continues to linger for cornerback Lardarius Webb, who missed his third straight practice Monday as the Ravens shifted training camp to M&T Bank Stadium for a public workout.

Head coach John Harbaugh acknowledged the back spasms he deemed as “nothing serious” on Friday have caused concern as the sixth-year cornerback remained sidelined, leaving third-year defensive back Asa Jackson to take the reps opposite Jimmy Smith in the starting defense. Webb left the field midway through the second full-squad workout of training camp and hasn’t practiced since.

“We’re going to see about Lardarius,” Harbaugh said. “He has some back things that we’re looking at right now, and backs are a little weird. At first it was no big deal. It’s lingering a little bit, so we’ll find out what’s going on with him.”

Fellow cornerback Chykie Brown returned to practice after missing Sunday’s workout due to a tweaked hamstring. He worked with the second-team base defense and played outside in the first-string nickel package with Jackson sliding inside when the Ravens used three cornerbacks.

Defensive end Chris Canty missed his second straight practice on Monday and was excused to deal with a family matter, according to Harbaugh. With Canty absent, second-year defensive lineman Kapron Lewis-Moore filled in at the 5-technique spot with the starting unit.

Other players remaining absent from practice included offensive linemen Will Rackley (concussion-related symptoms) and Parker Graham (groin) and defensive tackle Terrence Cody (hip), who remains on the active physically unable to perform list as he recovers from offseason surgery.

Lewis pays surprise visit

With a statue of Ray Lewis expected to be unveiled before the start of the regular season, the future Hall of Fame linebacker paid a surprise visit to the public training camp practice, easily drawing the loudest ovation on Monday night.

Lewis’ statue will stand next to the one of Johnny Unitas that was completed outside M&T Bank Stadium in 2002. Fans have customarily rubbed the high-top shoe of the Unitas statue for good luck on game days, but it remains to be seen if a new tradition will emerge when the second statue makes its debut next to the image of the Baltimore Colts legend and Hall of Fame quarterback.

“Most of the time, I’m never lost for words, but that’s a very humbling thing,” said Lewis, who implied his statue will be an image of his famed pre-game dance routine. “”For me to share that [honor with the late Unitas], that’s awesome.”

Rice greeted warmly by Ravens fans

As has been the case for with the select few selected for the opportunity to attend training camp practices in Owings Mills, fans greeted running back Ray Rice warmly whenever he was shown on the video board at the stadium.

Upon receiving his first loud ovation of the evening, Rice tapped his chest to acknowledge an announced crowd of 28,323.

The three-day window for Rice to appeal the two-game suspension handed down by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell passed on Monday with the 27-year-old electing not to try to have the discipline reduced.

Monday highlights

Wide receiver Torrey Smith made the play of the night with a leaping, one-handed catch inside the red zone with Jackson trying to stick with him in coverage.

Matt Elam turned in the most bizarre play of the evening when he picked off a Joe Flacco pass before nearly being run down by the golf cart of owner Steve Bisciotti, who claimed the second-year safety had seen him all the way and nearly tipped the vehicle over.

Defensive end Pernell McPhee was the defensive standout of the evening, collecting two quarterback sacks and making another tackle for a loss during team drills.

First-round inside linebacker C.J. Mosley got his first taste of M&T Bank Stadium and responded by knocking away a Flacco pass in the end zone during 11-on-11 red-zone work. Mosley lined up next to veteran Daryl Smith in the starting defense.

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As you’ve probably already heard, I’m in for Drew Forrester on “The D&L Window Tinting Morning Reaction” all this week on AM1570 WNST.net. Drew is in Ocean City-presumably doing enough golfing for him, myself, Luke Jones and the entire European Tour.

I have no idea if Drew is planning on writing daily posts himself this week, but I’m going to try to do my best to write my own. Drew’s Morning Dish is brought to you by Koons Baltimore Ford. Glenn’s Drew’s Morning Dish can be brought to you by Koons Baltimore Ford…unless of course they think I’m a big dummy and don’t want to put their name on it.

This will be about the most simple opinion I will have ever shared on-air or online. Sometimes I say things that people argue with or yell about, but I can’t fathom there being much in the way of dissent here.

The issue surrounding Baltimore Ravens RB Ray Rice is complicated, to say the least. I have shared a number of opinions about the topic over the course of the last few days and have no doubt that those topics will re-appear throughout the week and throughout the rest of Rice’s tenure in Charm City. I’m on the record about thinking the punishment was too light and that the NFL has a major “perception issue” at best when it comes to women, while the team has failed woefully to address the issue of domestic violence.

But Ray Rice is going to be a Baltimore Raven moving forward. Barring injury, he’ll return to the field Week 3 and will look to help the Ravens make a push towards winning the AFC North again. Before that, he’ll be on the field for preseason games (probably three of them) and will make his first major public appearance Monday night when the team holds a public Training Camp practice at M&T Bank Stadium.

There are a lot of things Ray Rice should do moving forward in his NFL career. He should be humble and appreciative of whatever amount of support fans choose to give him. He should work hard in his marriage and personal relationships. He should stay out of trouble. He should be willing to answer questions openly and honestly when he addresses the media for the first time Thursday in Owings Mills (I say “first time” because I am expecting he will actually answer questions this time). He should attempt to work hard in his professional career-playing football-and re-stock an inventory of appreciation among those who will likely be uncomfortable watching him play.

There’s one thing in particular he absolutely should not do-probably ever again.

Until his trip to Atlantic City, perhaps this celebration was the single most synonymous image of the three time Pro Bowler. Rice’s touchdown celebration has been completely sensical. Given his 5’7″ frame, the former second round pick has been doubted throughout his career, with skeptics wondering whether a player could succeed at a high level in the league at that size.

The celebration-which involved Rice flexing his ample biceps (or sometimes pointing at them)-was his way of saying his toughness and strength more than made up for what he lacked in size.

Rice’s touchdown celebration has been re-enacted by many in Charm City who have looked up to Rice. If you have attended a game at any level-from Pop Warner to college-in this area over the past few years, you have undoubtedly seen a young football player impersonating their idol.

But as the former All-Pro returns to the field after being the first of five Ravens to be arrested in the offseason, it’s time for the celebration to go.

There’s multiple reasons why Rice should abandon the muscle flexing. The most obvious is the visual created by the celebration. While those in Baltimore might recognize the flex as a celebration he’s used for his entire career, those around the country will immediately see a connotation between the flex and the incident with his wife. At best, it’s not worth the headache for Rice to have to try to defend himself. More realistically, it would represent an alarming lack of awareness.

Additionally, struggling Ravens fans don’t deserve to have to defend it. The player and team have already put fans in an awkward position for multiple reasons. Undoubtedly, Ravens fans will be asked “how does it feel do root for a wife beater” for the rest of Rice’s tenure in Purple and Black. The situation doesn’t need to be worsened every time the running back does something significant on a football field.

Someone in this area will inevitably make some sort of “PC Police” claim in response. I won’t bother to try to explain to someone that doesn’t understand why it isn’t a good idea for someone who was arrested for domestic violence to publicly flex his muscles as a form of celebration. If you don’t get it, you won’t get it. But consider that even if you cling to the rights of speech, perhaps dropping the celebration would simply be the best way for Rice to show humility at this point.

As a player, Rice shouldn’t treat it as something someone is taking away from him, he should instead treat it as an opportunity to show how much he’s grown as a man from the lowest moment of his life.

When he made his statement in Owings Mills weeks ago, Rice made it clear he wanted to try to make things return to normal as quickly as possible. You hope he understands that even a gesture like this wouldn’t POSSIBLY get him there.

It was bound to be a much talked about topic, but the NFL, the Ravens, Ray Rice and even sports media could not have expected the backlash after the two game suspension everyone has waited for. The idea of this punishment being accepted in society, let alone in a private multi-billion dollar corporation, is downright appalling to anyone that has a functioning brain and a television. But where does the real problem lie here? Obviously Rice has a major issue he should handle, which has been covered since day 1 of this incident. But this whole situation reeks of a much grander cultural issue in the NFL and sports in America.

To start, the main excuse for such a lenient reaction by Commissioner Roger Goodell and the Ravens organization is that “he has never done anything wrong before” is blatantly asinine. All CRIMINALS HAVE A CLEAN TRACK RECORD BEFORE THEIR FIRST CRIME! Why does his past “good behavior” allow Rice to strike a woman? Why is anyone looking at his charitable endeavors as a reason that he should be given more leniency towards such a heinous act? Because he has performed well in the most popular sport in the country, all the while being a stand up citizen for his first six seasons, does not give him (or anyone) a pass on judgement.

Yet the NFL powers decided that knocking a woman unconscionable is only worthy of half the punishment for taking Adderall without clearance from the the league offices. Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Jonhson was the last to receive a suspension by a league before Rice; four games for not reporting to the league that he was taking a prescription drug that contained a banned substance.

Any defense of Rice’s actions shows immaturity and undermines the moral fabric of the entire NFL fan base. The statement has arisen, “We don’t know if he did anything in that elevator.” Well we all certainly know what the police report says. It states that Rice struck his girlfriend using his hands. We all know that Rice himself felt the need to publicly apologize for his actions. I can’t remember the last time I apologized for not doing anything wrong. We all know that the NFL Commissioner had enough evidence to suspend Rice. There would certainly be a ensuing legal battle if he were innocent, yet still receive punishment.

Yet Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh wants to state that “[Ray Rice] is a good guy.” I’m sorry but when you find it necessary to use physical force against a woman than NO HE IS NOT! This simply proves the team (like the rest of the league) is just worried about winning and not HUMAN DECENCY. We have seen this in the past as the Ravens publicly backed the likes of Ray Lewis, Jamal Lewis, Chris McAlister and Terrell Suggs during their legal troubles. I guess that is why the team did not have the gumption to take action when they were handed all of the same evidence that led to this suspension.

But in the end it is not Rice’s fault that the league office felt some sort of sympathy on his case. And that is where the real issue comes to the forefront. The NFL has stood by its players to a fault; where well known and reported criminals can get away with breaking the law because they can play football. The players have no recourse knowing that the league will let them back in with open arms no matter how despicable the act.

There were 19 arrests this off season (5 of which by those who play in Baltimore), yet many of those players will be allowed to go back to there daily lives and daily earnings without any repercussions what so ever. Has anyone even mentioned throwing out a suspension for Deonte Thompson or Jah Reid or Lorenzo Talliferro or Jimmy Smith? NO!

And just maybe, if the NFL did put in a policy TO NOT GET ARRESTED or you will lose out on your livelihood, like they have with their substance abuse and performance enhancing drug policies, players would be less inclined to act like delinquents off the field. Maybe it is time for the NFL to take a stand against their EMPLOYEES ACTING AS CRIMINALS. Roger Goodell certainly had a chance to prove a point with Ray Rice and he missed terribly.

Now the court of public opinion is weighing down on the league and rightfully so, as the NFL’s culture of protecting its product has proven to outweigh the importance HUMAN DECENCY. I dare anyone to go out, hit their wife in public or get arrested with multiple DUIs or get caught with illegal narcotics on several different occasions or any other crime and still be allowed to show their face at their place of business the next day. So why does the most powerful sports league in the world just deem these actions as acceptable or commonplace?

After Goodell laid down this “punishment” on Ray Rice, I personally felt ashamed to consider myself a diehard fan of the NFL. It is an embarrassment for the NFL to consider its fan base so neanderthalic and stupid to not understand what is fair and just.